Stéphane Denève and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announce six new full-time musicians

(September 17, 2019, St. Louis, MO) – The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Stéphane Denève are pleased to announce the appointment of seven new full-time musicians as the SLSO begins its 2019/2020 season:

Michael Casimir, viola, joins the SLSO full-time following a one-year appointment as a replacement musician during the 2018-19 season. A graduate of the Juilliard School and The Curtis Music Institute, he was awarded second place in the 2015 and 2011 International Sphinx Competitions, and was the winner of the grand prize at the Hudson Valley Philharmonic Competition in 2013. In addition to classical music, Casimir likes to explore other genres. He is the newest member of The 442s; he recorded for the “Lion King” (2019) soundtrack; and has composed the music for a mobile game.

Andrew Francois, viola, an Illinois native, was in the inaugural class of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Resident Fellows program. He has also played in and served as principal with the Verbier Festival Orchestra, the Spoleto Festival Orchestra, and the New World Symphony Orchestra. He is a graduate of Illinois State University and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. In his spare time, Francois enjoys playing tennis and practicing yoga.

Leonid Plashinov-Johnson, viola, is a 2019 graduate of the New England Conservatory. He is also a laureate of multiple competitions, most recently the Primrose International Viola Competition and the NEC Concerto Competition. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras including the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the NEC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Harlow Symphony Orchestra, the Sofia Chamber Orchestra, and the AIMS Festival Orchestra

Jennifer Humphreys, cello, was most recently a cellist in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. She has also held positions with the Atlanta and Charlotte Symphony Orchestras. Humphreys spends her summers performing at the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. While in Dallas, she served as Adjunct Faculty at Texas Christian University. In addition to teaching and performing chamber music, she enjoys cycling, cooking, gardening, and yoga.

Aleck Belcher, double bass, is a recent graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Belcher recently performed with orchestras at the Pacific Music Festival throughout Japan and at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. He has also performed as a substitute bassist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, his hometown orchestra. He looks forward to further developing his musicianship with the SLSO and getting involved with the St. Louis community to promote music education

Brendan Fitzgerald, double bass, comes to St. Louis after two seasons with the Seattle Symphony. A San Diego native, he is a graduate of Northwestern University. He attended the Aspen Music Festival in 2016 and 2017 as a fellowship recipient, performing alongside members of the Pittsburgh, Dallas, St. Louis, and San Francisco symphonies. He is excited to begin work with Stéphane Denève and the rest of his SLSO colleagues, as well as enjoy the finest barbecue in the country.